Workshop to promote women artisans of Kondapalli toys

Vijayawada: AP Handlooms and Textiles director C. Nagarani has praised efforts of women artisans in continuing the rich tradition of making world-famous Kondapalli toys.

Inaugurating a workshop for skilling woman in making these toys, along with AP Handcrafts chairperson B Vijayalakshmi and Abhihaara co-founder and CEO Sudha Rani Mullapudi, Nagarani said the workshop will help revive making of Kondapalli toys, whose manufacturing had been hit during Coronavirus crisis.

Abhihaara CEO Sudha Rani said majority of young men making the toys earlier had migrated to cities during the pandemic looking for work. The craft of making Kondapalli toys came under real danger. These young women undergoing training could turn out to be saviours of this craft.

Sudha Rani said Abhihaara has conceptualised the workshop and opened a Green Craft Store with the objective of keeping alive the rich heritage and legacy of Kondapalli craft. She hoped the dedication of women will help uplift the deprived artisans living on Kondapalli toy making.

The CEO said young women will be taught higher-order skills like chiselling and carving at the four-month workshop. Furthermore, the workshop will provide training in natural dyeing, digital technology and soft skills to women artisans.

AP School Education Regulatory and Monitoring Commission vice chairperson A. Vijaya Sharada Reddy said it is heartening to see women honing their skills. She hoped the young women artisans will become custodians of the 400-year-old toy craft.

Institute for Advanced Studies in Complex Choices co-founder Chitra Sood also addressed the workshop.